Burkina Faso Face Mali as Morocco Clash with Ivory Coast in U-17 AFCON Semi-Finals
The stage is set for the semi-finals of the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as four of the continent’s brightest youth football teams battle for a place in the final. The matches, scheduled for Tuesday, 15 April, promise thrilling encounters as the future stars of African football continue to shine in Morocco.
In the first semi-final, Burkina Faso will take on Mali at 18h00 CAT at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium. The Stallions head into the match with great momentum after a stunning 6-1 demolition of COSAFA champions Zambia in the quarter-finals. Their free-flowing attacking play and solid team cohesion have made them one of the standout sides in the tournament so far.
Their opponents, Mali, have also impressed, showcasing tactical discipline and technical prowess throughout the competition. The West African derby is expected to be a tightly contested affair, with both teams eyeing a spot in the final.
Later in the evening, hosts Morocco will take on Ivory Coast at the El Bachir Stadium at 21h00 CAT. The Moroccan side has looked confident and composed throughout the tournament and will be aiming to take advantage of home support to book their ticket to the final.
However, standing in their way is a determined Ivory Coast team that pulled off a shock victory over defending champions Senegal in the quarter-finals. The Young Elephants will be hoping to carry that momentum forward and spoil Morocco’s title dreams on home soil.
This year’s U-17 AFCON has also received praise for its strict age-verification measures. CAF Medical Manager Dr. Sidiki Boubakary highlighted the success of MRI testing in tackling the long-standing issue of age cheating in youth football.
We never see overage players playing in the U-17 category now. We are having truly U-17 boys playing among them. And we haven’t had protests about age cheating prior to the current TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, Dr. Boubakary stated.
The implementation of MRI scans has been widely credited for improving the fairness and competitiveness of the tournament, allowing genuine U-17 talents to showcase their abilities on an even playing field.
With both semi-final clashes promising end-to-end action, fans across the continent will be watching closely as the finalists of the 2025 U-17 AFCON are decided. The winners of Tuesday’s matches will meet in the final for a shot at continental glory, while the losing sides will battle for third place.